John 19:17–27

John 19:17-27

Summary

John 19:17–27 records Jesus going out to Golgotha, “the Place of a Skull.” He is moving, step by step, toward the hour for which he came. He will soon suffer immeasurable pain and unimaginable abandonment. Yet, he is steadfast. He is steadfast for us. What was Jesus' source of strength? Hebrews 12 says, Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross" (Heb. 12:2). His strength was the vision of his people being set free from sin and guilt. That vision kept him going.

John records the sign fixed above Jesus:

“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

Pilate likely meant it as mockery, but without realizing it, he speaks more truth than he knows. The sovereign God even redeems human sarcasm and wrongdoing for his good purposes. The title is written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. These are the languages of the whole known world at the time. It is public. It is visible. It cannot be quietly hidden away. The Jews condemn Jesus, yet the cross itself announces who He truly is. Jesus is the King of the Jews and the whole of humanity!

Then John notices something else. The soldiers divide Jesus’ garments and cast lots for his seamless tunic. History tells us that the Roman soldiers did this for two reasons: 1) To mock the criminal, and 2) The seamless tunic was valuable. However, what appears to be a small, cruel detail is not random. This, too, is a fulfillment of the Word.

They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.--Psalm 22:18

Psalm 22 is not being echoed vaguely. It is unfolding before their eyes. And in the middle of this suffering, Jesus sees Mary, the virgin who gave birth to him, standing near the cross, along with the disciple whom he loved. Even while bearing God's judgment for sinners, he does not stop caring for his own. He entrusts his mother to the beloved disciple, and from that hour, a new family is formed. This new covenant family was forged at the cross.

Meditation

Earthly kings are surrounded by protection against earthly threats, kept at a distance from people, and displayed in grandeur. But Jesus is exposed to threats, for the people, and crowned in shame. His crown is not gold but thorns. His court is not made up of loyal nobles but cynical soldiers, hostile leaders, and scared followers.

The soldiers are preoccupied with what they can take. The last piece of Jesus' possessions is taken away. Yet, Jesus is steadfast with what he came to give. That contrast exposes something about the human heart. Even at the edge of the darkest moment in history, sinners remain cynical and self-centered and spiritually blind. But the soldiers are not an exception. Even the so-called Christians today will reduce God's glory to possessions, numbers, stats, and programs. In doing so, we miss the Son of God because we are busy grasping for the immediate things. Observing Good Friday and Easter seems more important than seeking compassion and justice. They forget

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:27).

Jesus sees Mary, the virgin who gave birth to him. He also sees the beloved disciple. He carries the sin of the world, and still, he cares for one grieving woman and the beloved disciple. That is our Lord. He never loses sight of the individual soul. Each soul is just as important to our God as the whole universe. Even though this world may not know who we are and what our toils may be. We are not insignificant in the eyes of the God of the Universe, as long as the gaze of our Lord is upon us.

At the cross, Jesus creates a new covenant family. “Behold, your son.” “Behold, your mother.” The cross of Jesus forms a people. It's not the building or the budget that forms God's people. It's the saints of God who are bound by the cross of Calvary. Even now, those who stand near Jesus by faith are bound to one another. The "church" is born not through familiarity or friendship, but through Christ, who was rejected, despised, and crucified.

With whom do we associate?

Are we like the soldiers, more concerned with dividing garments than the Lord crucified? Is growth in numbers how we define a church's "success"? Or are we like the religious leaders, offended by the kind of king Jesus is? Is religious observance more important than observing the commandments of the Lord to do justice and good? Or are we standing near the cross, ready to embrace the nail-pierced hands of our Lord Jesus? Are we standing with the truth, compassion, justice, righteousness? Let us not forget, for Christians, to live is to live for Christ, and to die is gain.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when we look at the cross, teach us to see more clearly who Jesus is. Keep us from treating holy things lightly. Keep us from being so occupied with lesser things that we miss the glory of your Son. Draw us nearer to the cross. Form us into a true family through his grace. And help us to trust the King who gave himself for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.